Brings Extensive Surf Industry Experience to Haleiwa Headquarters


HALEIWA, OAHU, HAWAI'I – May 1, 2007 – Xcel Wetsuits (Xcel) is excited to announce the hire of Marshall Marumoto to the position of Vice President of Operations.

In this position, Marshall will be responsible for overseeing all administrative aspects of the Xcel business, and will coordinate all departments, including design, marketing, production, customer service, and wholesale and retail sales.

Marshall brings over 20 years of managerial experience in the surf apparel industry to Xcel. As general manager for Local Motion, Inc., a Hawai'i-based surfboard and apparel brand, Marshall oversaw operations of both retail store operations in Hawai'i, and a global wholesale business that includes the Hawai'ian Style and Kahala Sportswear divisions.

"We're excited to have Marshall as a top-notch addition to the Xcel team, as he brings a lot to the table," says Ed D'Ascoli, Xcel president and founder. "His background in managing retail and wholesale aspects of surfwear, and finding success with a Hawai'i-based brand, are a perfect fit for Xcel."

"I'm very excited to be here at Xcel – I've been using Xcel's top-quality products for years, and strongly believe in this brand," says Marshall from his office at the Xcel headquarters in Haleiwa.

About Xcel Wetsuits
Founded in 1982, Xcel Wetsuits (Xcel) is a global independent wetsuit brand distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Headquartered on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawai'i, Xcel's core wetsuit business focuses on the cutting edge of material and design development. Since 1986, Xcel has produced the annual Xcel Pro surf contest, a 4-Star Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) event.

In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel operates two retail stores on Oahu and a warehouse/repair facility in California. Xcel's primary markets include surf, UV protection, dive, wakeboard, and paddle. To learn more about Xcel, please visit www.xcelwetsuits.com .